-
the Daily hi thread
Discussion , should all air guns be licensed - not FAC
- Thread starter SJD
- Start date
Not sure full on licensing will make any difference, however given how many times the phrase 'idiots and criminals' has been used in this thread, how about.....
The police ban ownership/ purchasing of airguns based on a persons current or previous convictions and include this on said idiots criminal file.
They then give RFD's access to a database so after seeing some ID (passport/ driving licence just for example) they can actually check to see if the idiot is permitted to own an air rifle or not, and not just sell too/ buy from anyone who walks through the door?
Not suggesting all idiots have a record, and they could of course still get hold of air rifles, but it might perhaps be a middle ground solution to appease the public and media for now, without causing us lot too much interference.....
Just a thought.
The police ban ownership/ purchasing of airguns based on a persons current or previous convictions and include this on said idiots criminal file.
They then give RFD's access to a database so after seeing some ID (passport/ driving licence just for example) they can actually check to see if the idiot is permitted to own an air rifle or not, and not just sell too/ buy from anyone who walks through the door?
Not suggesting all idiots have a record, and they could of course still get hold of air rifles, but it might perhaps be a middle ground solution to appease the public and media for now, without causing us lot too much interference.....
Just a thought.
Bananas
Proactive member
Definitely not - BUT its going to come..!
That's what a section 21 is for .
But there is no list of who would be a section 21 other than in the hands of the police.
They can't even possess airgun pellets if they are section 21 exempt.
Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime - prohibited persons.
Under Section 21 of the Firearms Act 1968 any person who has been sentenced (anywhere in the
UK) to a term of imprisonment, youth custody or detention in a young offenders institution for a
period of more than three months but less than three years is subject to a five year prohibition from
having any firearm or ammunition in his possession.
A person who has been sentenced to a term
of imprisonment or youth custody for a period in excess of three years is prohibited for life.
Suspended sentences now attract a prohibition of 5 years. Air pellets are deemed to be
ammunition and cannot be handled by prohibited persons.
most events that have airguns ask you if you are section 21 exempt. Most would say no if they were
An ex member on here was possibly section 21 exempt due to a previous sentence .
You can have a section 21 removed by the courts.
they would probably hope we will all give in and hand our airguns over to be destroyed but you're right;the police certainly wouldn't want to be chasing us around.
Snapshot
Member Extraordinaire
You might think they'd learned after the fiasco that was the Brocock, etc. ban when only 10% were handed in but they probably haven't. The official police line is that they don't want airgun licensing as they know they couldn't cope.
DaveP796
Member Extraordinaire
The cost of a first fac is currently £88 - plus whatever your doctor feels like charging for the medical report. Mine charges £130 and that appears to be at the lower end. The police have been saying for some time that they don't have the manpower to do the admin or the home visits and that it costs them a fortune. There was an MP, only last month pushing for "the full cost" to be borne by applicants - current estimate appears to be in the region of £500, plus the medical...
Worthwhile, to keep the public safe?
D'you think it'll be any cheaper for air rifles?
I think it was only last month that our local constabulary rounded up a young "person of interest" while he was having his hair cut. By the sound of it, clearly not Peaky Blinders material - yet he had a loaded handgun in his pocket.
Worthwhile, to keep the public safe?
D'you think it'll be any cheaper for air rifles?
I think it was only last month that our local constabulary rounded up a young "person of interest" while he was having his hair cut. By the sound of it, clearly not Peaky Blinders material - yet he had a loaded handgun in his pocket.
Licensing up here was staggered . Some got a 6 months cert and others were varied by time until they got all the applications dealt with. The costs were adjusted for the time your cert ran until renewal.
It was a separate dept that dealt with it initially and not the normal licensing office.
Those with a SGC or FAC got to hold their airguns but were not able to buy a new one until their SGC and FAC was needing renewed and they had their AWC.
I had this happen with mine . I was allowed to hold and use mine for over a year but I could not buy a new one from an RFD.
The same would no doubt happen If it was brought in down south.
massa
Super member
Stryderb
Proactive member
Absolutely not. Which I imagine is the sentiment of the vast majority of the community. Restrictions on the legal ownership of firearms does very little to combat illicit firearm use.
What I would be keen for is an FAC Air Lite style license of sorts. Something like the licensee could possess an air rifle up to say 20-25ftlb with less paperwork than a full Sec 1 license and where the gun itself is not tied to the license. So you could posses a low/ moderate FAC power level rifle without it going on ticket for the rest of its life. Hell I'd register all of my PCPs and pay the tax man whatever he wants for this. No more constant testing to make sure the guns do not creep near 12ftlb and the ability to have a nice flat trajectory out to 70 odd meters. That is a way they could sway me to support it. But never for only 12fpe. Bloody hell when I was a kid we would wander the farm with .22lr borrowed from a grandad. Sensible shooters will always be just that, sensible. Scotes will always be scrotes.
What I would be keen for is an FAC Air Lite style license of sorts. Something like the licensee could possess an air rifle up to say 20-25ftlb with less paperwork than a full Sec 1 license and where the gun itself is not tied to the license. So you could posses a low/ moderate FAC power level rifle without it going on ticket for the rest of its life. Hell I'd register all of my PCPs and pay the tax man whatever he wants for this. No more constant testing to make sure the guns do not creep near 12ftlb and the ability to have a nice flat trajectory out to 70 odd meters. That is a way they could sway me to support it. But never for only 12fpe. Bloody hell when I was a kid we would wander the farm with .22lr borrowed from a grandad. Sensible shooters will always be just that, sensible. Scotes will always be scrotes.
Having started ~2 months ago I habe strong doubts this is beneficial. As others have said, tightening the firearms laws will only affect law abiding gun owners anyway - England has already the tightest gun laws in Europe and I believe is already at the bottom of the table however knife crime is one of the highest in Europe. Put things into perspective who you try to protect and how - most likely you will only restrict the ones you aim to protect anyway.
Criminals will and wont care thats a fact.
Read different observations from other countries how they compare to England and the UK translate them and you’ll see it’s actually pretty tight here while the impact of guns remains low compared to other European countries.
In the US there are actual stats stating that states with eg concealed carrying have reduced rates compared to the others while comparing even the amount of guns per people within those states.
Fact is a few rotten apples spoil it for the majority - same happened to drones.
massa
Super member
I had couple of my friend relocated themselves from Scotland because of the ridiculous air gun license law , …. And you want this happen here in England & Wales !!!??????? Or you want us to be like Ireland where you need a license to buy spoon and fork ??????
No. It wouldn't make a blind bit of difference, idiots will still be idiots so only those with common sense and law abiding would be effected.
In fact I'd like to see the 12ft lb limit raised to around 18ft lb but then I'd like to see motorway limits raised to around 90mph or even 100mph.
In fact I'd like to see the 12ft lb limit raised to around 18ft lb but then I'd like to see motorway limits raised to around 90mph or even 100mph.
massa
Super member
well spoken mate
That's a pretty good idea, or maybe age 21+, no criminal record and have to register them rather than a licence and full checks.
From someone that used to wander my dad's land with a 410 shotgun from about 13 or 14.
massa
Super member
What Marcus said, earlier it’s true idiot will be always idiot no matter what… unfortunately
Stryderb
Proactive member
It's a bygone age I think that youngsters these days don't get to experience. I have very fond memories of being handed a "44 magnum" when I was about 10 (pre handgun ban) and being allowed to empty the cylinder at a pile of milk jugs. A few years later I learned that it was in fact chambered in .22 short
